Gracar Turn Castle, Hrastje, Slovenia

The Gracar Turn ('Grätzer's Tower') is not recorded in medieval sources, though the historian Valvasor mentions a manor stood on the site in the 14th century, built by the Grätzer family from nearby Gradac, whence its name derives. After passing through numerous hands, it was purchased by Anton Rudež in 1821. The author Janez Trdina was often Rudež's guest at Gracar Turn; several of the former's works were written at the castle, including his best-known, Fables and Tales of the Gorjancers. During World War II part the castle was burned down by partisan fighters. It has since been renovated.

The core of the castle consists of a multi-story residential palacium, surrounded by a rectangular complex anchored by two imposing square towers.

References:

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User Reviews

Suzana Škofic (4 years ago)
It looks very magnificent. It is a real pity that it is decaying and that the interior is not accessible to visitors.

Mateja Jere Mrak (4 years ago)
sadly it is in very bad condition.

Tomaž Škulj (4 years ago)
Beautiful surroundings and views of the surrounding countryside. Maybe some information about the facility itself and the location, welcome.

Tanja Šebek (4 years ago)
A large and interesting castle complex, which is unfortunately falling into disrepair. No one has lived in it for years. The owners live in Belgium. Years ago, the daughter of the last owner was mysteriously murdered there

Matic (6 years ago)
Mystical and now abandoned castle where a murder occured just some 10 years ago. Only the outside of the building can be seen and there is no further information of the castle at the spot. It was still worth seeing this local gem.

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Sigmaringen Castle

Sigmaringen Castle was first mentioned in the year 1077 in the chronicles of Petershausen monastery. The oldest parts of the castle are concealed beneath the alterations made during the 17th and the 19th centuries. The secret of the earliest settlement built on this defendable rock will never be fully revealed: large-scale excavation work would be necessary, which the extensive land development renders impossible. Judging from the many Roman remains unearthed in the area around Sigmaringen, the 12th century keep known as the 'Roman Tower' could be traced back to a Roman predecessor.

The castle remains that have been preserved (gate, great hall and keep) date back to the Staufer period around 1200. The castle remains were integrated into subsequent buildings. The foundations of the castle buildings are to a large extent identical to the surrounding castle wall.

These remains give us a good idea of how the castle might have looked during the 12th century.

Gracar Turn Castle

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